Community Speak

This is a lesson I learned years ago, at Fuller. You see, in order to get an M.Div from an extension campus, we had to be a part of a cohort. The cohort is a group of people who take a class a quarter together (plus two retreats a year) for three years. [...]

Animal Rescue II

It seems our lot in life to find helpless baby quail stuck in the treacherous underground drainage systems of North East Mesa. For it happened again. This time, however, the results were far superior to our previous efforts.

As an update to the last post, Animal Rescue, those chicks we set free again found [...]

Wisdom From a Child

Last night my youngest daughter watched Jurassic Park III with some friends (some friends!). Then, predictably, she had a nightmare and came in our bed last night. This morning she and I slept in nicely and cuddled together as we both woke up. As we cuddled, I asked her a question:

“What is [...]

More on The Shack

The story in The Shack held my attention and got my emotions going – a “page turner” in that once I got going, I wanted to know how things worked out. But the way this book deals with important theological concerns makes it stand out as a “must read” for everyone. And [...]

Post-technological

I’m slowly reading a book called, A Matrix of Meanings: finding God in pop culture by Craig Detweiler and Barry Taylor. In one section, they argue that people today are becoming post-scientific/technological. Technology is running us ragged, the more electronic we get, the more tired we become, etc. They aregue that [...]

Pray too often?

Tonight I was talking with a good friend who is going through a tough time. After talking, asking questions, listening, and sitting in silence in his unusually cool backyard, I prayed. He said that that was the first time we had prayed together in ten months…and he wanted to do that again every [...]

Gospel and Good News

This morning I am preaching a sermon about following Jesus, the King. Part of my message is about “gospel” and “good news.” Following is an essay I wrote a few years ago about the meaning of “gospel.” It is long and “academic,” but (I think!) worth the effort to read. Getting [...]

Swim Team

The girls joined a swim team this summer.  Here are some pictures from their first meet.  They are having lots of fun!

Direction (for now)

Had a great lunch with my friend Ron today. He helped confirm several thoughts I’ve had lately…and I feel good about where I am in life right now. Two basic things:
First, we will begin meeting as a “church” very soon (we as in our family and anyone else who wants to). I [...]

Fishing Trip

Last week our family (including my parents) took a trip up to the White Mountains of Arizona (the place of my birth and one of my favorite places anywhere). We had a wonderfully relaxing time…I read The Shack, we all got to fish a little, the weather was nice, and we enjoyed a daily [...]